Island Peak – Nepal 2013

A lot of training and gear selection went towards the preparation of a hopeful summit of Island Peak (Imja Tse) 20,305ft. With the biggest snowfall Nepal had experienced in almost a century, our dreams of climbing our first peak above 6000m vanished overnight. We were trekking towards Gokyo Lakes when the snow started to fall. At first the snow was light and made for great photos, but three hours later it was falling in sheets.

Our guides didn’t want to break the bad news to our group that Island Peak had been closed for the season but we all knew that we were here to enjoy the journey and would have to plan on meeting our destination some other time in future. For myself, I really wanted to mark the 40 great years I’ve enjoyed exploring this wonderful world with my brother. The summit flag I designed is a tribute to each of the years we have lived and shared. The flag was meant for the summit but I’m not even sure of how much space there would have been up there for such a photo.

This was my second trek to Everest Base Camp and it was a lot tougher due to the unexpected snow fall. I also found the hike up Kala Patthar a lot more taxing than my first experience in 2009. I put it down to the camera equipment I chose to hike with along with three interchangeable lenses. The weeks of hiking with a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) and all that goes along with it took its toll but I now have high resolution memories – a direct trade off. What you put in is what you get out.

Dozens of sadhus live around the temple devoting their life to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction. They also earn quite a good living by charging small fees for any photos that might be taken of themselves. I found that this really added to my visits to the temple.

Kenyon’s vague plan to meet up with Tina and Ian turned out very well along the banks of the Dudh Kosi River. It was pure coincidence that the last day of their trek coincided with the first day of ours. The booking of their trip and ours was totally unplanned. What are the chances of that ever happening again?

On day two of our trek we had a clear view of Khumbila or Khumbu Yül-Lha, roughly translated as “God of Khumbu”. This mountain is one of the high Himalayan peaks in the Khumbu region of Eastern Nepal within the boundaries of Sagarmatha National Park. It’s almost the same hight of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The clouds parted for just a few seconds while we were descending Kala Patthar and within seconds Mt. Everest was suddenly revealed. Seconds after I had taken this shot the clouds closed in so it really was a lucky break for us. We would have otherwise flown all that way from Australia and hiked all those days without seeing what was definitely one of the highlights of this trip.

Our shuttle is forced to a stop on the busy roads of Kathmandu. A young passer by asks for some food.

Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal: Walking along the banks of the Bagmati River, Kenyon was almost sold a beautiful song bowl.

I was told that this guy was posing as a Sadu but he was really just in it for the cash.

Kathmandu, Nepal: A Hindu sadhu – holy man – dressed as Hanuman (the monkey god) at The Pashupatinath Temple. Dozens of sadhus live around the temple devoting their life to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction.

Keno captures the essence of Nepal.

Kathmandu, Nepal: Fixing it Nepalese style.

Departing for Lukla Airport with prayer flags draped over the pilots steering column.

Nepal: The fifty minute flight heading for Lukla Airport. Kenyon and I firmly strap ourselves in for the landing.

Coincidence had the last day of Tina and Ian’s trek coinciding with the first day of our three week trek through the Khumbu region and beyond. From Left: Tina, Kenyon, Ian and myself.

First morning on our trek. Waiting to depart the village of Phakding.

Day two of our trek towards Mt. Everest. The desolate peak in the distance, known as Khumbu Yül-Lha, stands at 5761m. It’s almost as high as Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895m / 19,341ft).

Kenyon looking up at the notorious Larche Dibhan Bridge. The lower crossing was closed due to overuse. A lot of the tour companies pitch in to finance the construction of new and safer crossings, in-turn keeping their clients alive and returning home to share their photos, . . . like myself. 😉

Adding to the colourful village of Namche Bazar.

Looking down to the colourful village of Namche Bazar and the Dudh Kosi Valley edging is way back down to Lukla – the gateway to Mt. Everest and the the Khumbu Glacier (the world’s highest glacier).

Our guide taking in the waterfall above. Next stop is the small village of Dole – two hours north.

Looking south down the Dudh Khoshi Valley towards Mt. Kangtega (mid peak). We are en route to Gokyo Lakes. Two days from when this photos was taken, Nepal would experience it’s biggest snow storm of the century.

The distant knife ridge marks the border between Nepal and Tibet. Towards late afternoon, the sun casts a fast flying shadow across the base of Island Peak, as it sets behind the height of this ridge.

Keno and I both claim to have taken this photo of the other. It must have been the combination of cold and the altitude bringing on high altitude subcortical dementia;). Seeing as it’s my blog, I’m going to lay claim on this photo. Kenyon catching some morning warmth outside the mess tent – Island Peak Base Camp.

My brother Kenyon taking a moment to enjoy the sunset after a long day on trail – Whananaki Bridge, New Zealand – 2nd November 2011

Dusk sets in – looking south towards the skyline of the Gold Coast – just over an hours hike away (4 miles / 6.4 kilometres).

My favourite section of track en route to the Jetty. The late afternoon shadows of trees which cross the track give me the sense that I’m walking slightly faster.

Sunrise over North Head, Sydney Harbour, Australia

Bluff at Sterling Point New Zealand, is well renowned for it’s starting and finishing point for thru-hikers. A passer by cheers Kenyon on towards the finish of his 3300km traverse.

With only 38 kilometres (24miles) remaining of his traverse, I took this photo of Kenyon brandishing his well earned flag which I designed for him. I had the design printed on satin while in Sydney a few weeks before my flight over to join Kenyon in New Zealand. I waited for the right moment – and on his second last day of his 3,300km long traverse, I handed it to him before he set off in the morning to cross the Riverton Bridge. It was an emotional moment for both of us as he unraveled his flag – making it one of the moments in our lives that we would never forget. Every town and city he’d hiked through is listed on the flag along with the TNZ logo which I designed for him when I first heard that he’d be hiking the length of New Zealand. There was just the right amount of wind that day which had the flag flying proud and strong.

Looking down to the colourful village of Namche Bazar and the Dudh Kosi Valley edging is way back down to Lukla – the gateway to Mt. Everest and the the Khumbu Glacier (the world’s highest glacier).

Kathmandu, Nepal: A Hindu sadhu – holy man – dressed as Hanuman (the monkey god) at The Pashupatinath Temple. Dozens of sadhus live around the temple devoting their life to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction.

Taken just to the left of entrance to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Constructed from 1996 to 2007 – it is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates.

A lucky break in the clouds. Looking up at Everest after Keno and I descend down to the mid point of Kala Patthar. The clouds added to the mystique of our surroundings. A short-lived yet unforgettable sight for each of us!

The view from The Burj Khalifa observation deck.

Cooling off in the fountains of The Emirates Palace – Abu Dhabi

Keno and I both claim to have taken this photo of the other. It must have been the combination of cold and the altitude bringing on high altitude subcortical dementia;). Seeing as it’s my blog, I’m going to lay claim on this photo. Kenyon catching some morning warmth outside the mess tent – Island Peak Base Camp.

Looking south down the Dudh Khoshi Valley towards Mt. Kangtega (mid peak). We are en route to Gokyo Lakes. Two days from when this photos was taken, Nepal would experience it’s biggest snow storm of the century.

Kenyon going through a gear check on the foothills of Island Peak.

Buddhist Stupa on the Everest trail (just north of Namche Bazaar), Himalaya, Nepal.